Improvement in lasts



UNITED A STATES PATENT EEICEo WILLIAM WELLS, OF SOUTH DANVERS, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN LASTS.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM WELLs, ot' South Danvers, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Lasts; and I do The present invention consists in forming a last used for boots and shoes with a detachable bottom piece or sole, the object of which is to enable a new bottom piece to be attached to the main or body portion of the last when the old one has become worn out or rendered useless from its constant use and by its surface becoming indented by the pegging ofthe sole to the upper leather of the boot or shoe that is being made upon the same, the many advantages of which are apparent to all and need no particular mention herein.

In the accompanying plate of drawings my improvement is illustrated, Figure l being a side view of a last made acccording to the same, and Fig. 2 a view of the bottom or sole of the last.

a a in the drawings represent a last for boots or shoes, made of the ordinary form, but in two parts or sections, b and c, with the division in the direction of its length, which are secured together by means of screws d d l or in any other proper manner.

The last may be made of wood or any other suitable material, and by forming it in two parts or sections, as described, with the bottom or sole piece c of wood or other material suitable for driving the pegs into the boot or shoe sole, the upper or main portion of the last over which the upper-leather of the boot or shoe is fitted can be made of iron or any other metal, the advantages ot' which over wood, which has heretofore always been and necessarily7 used, are well known to all conversant with the manufacture ot' boots or shoes. A

Also, by forming the last in two sections di-v vided in the direction of its length, as dcscribed, it is evident that as the sole portion of the same or that into which the pegs used in the attachment of a sole to a boot or shoe are driven becomes worn or useless therefrom, it can be easily removed and a new one placed thereon.

There are many modes by which the two portions of the last may be attached together other thanthat herein described, and without departing from the principles of the present invention, as hereinbefore stated, and thereticular mode of attachment thereof.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The two-part last herein described, divided horizontally near its lower surface, and otherwise adapted for use in the manner and for the purposes specied.

The above specitication ot my invention signed by me this 4th day of May, 1865.

WILLIAM WELLS.

Witnesses:

ALBERT W. BROWN, M. M. LIVINGSTON.

fore I do not intend to limitmyself to any par- 

